Waow liveaboard severely damaged in fire

There is a video circulating that purports to show the Indonesian liveaboard Waow on fire and burning to the waterline. Early reports suggest that crew and passengers are all safe and that the fire originated in the vessel’s engine room. UPDATE: The company has confirmed that the vessel has sunk and is lost.

We hope that all involved in this harrowing ordeal are safe and sound. We have reached out to the Waow and when we get confirmation about the reports, will post them here too.

I worked at Scuba Travel from 2007 - 2010 and I know all at WAOW.. From a guest perspective I would much prefer to hear it directly from the boat, first the tragic news but second an alternative holiday suggestion. A problem and a suggested solution. If I was a guest I would hate to see it second hand but I understand it was already in the public domain mostly being shared by boat crew in Indonesia and maybe I acted out of raw emotion to my detriment. I feel for the staff dealing with this situation and all the guests who have lost their holidays along with all the crew and the owners and the whole diving community who has suffered a huge blow.

Posted by Alison Bygrave on 2018-02-02 13:36:19

Can I ask are you the same Alison Bygrave, senior travel consultant at Scuba Travel who are the UK agents for Waow? Just Asking

Posted by Carmen Tadesco on 2018-02-02 13:19:27

I’m utterly gob smacked. Wife and I just spent Xmas and new year abourd WAOW diving Raja Ampat. Our second trip aboard her. Whilst feeling utterly shocked and saddened at this news I’m also extremely pleased to hear that all passengers and crew are safe. A wonderful crew who must be totally heart broken.

Posted by Morgan McDonnell on 2018-02-01 21:15:36

Doesn't look like a storm, as the press release says. Looks like a fire. Thank you for correctly reporting the tragic event.

Posted by The Rock on 2018-02-01 18:59:55

Adam, Thanks for posting this. Disseminating information that affects the UW Photo community in a responsible way is just one of the reasons why Wetpixel is the leading resource for UW photographers. This incident is hardly a secret; when I became aware of it yesterday, I was able to confirm it with two separate sources (both in-country) within 30 minutes. Good on Wetpixel for sharing it. Keep up the great work.

Alison, whilst we can agree to differ on whether this information should be public or not, your original post was effectively an attack on me. You accuse me of trying to "grab the headlines" and go on to 'shaming me." By personalizing this discussion, you kind of limit your "options."

I would vigorously defend the Wetpixel community's right to be informed about any story that affects them. What you are proposing is in effect censorship. While an organization may seek to control the information flow after events like this, journalists have a de facto responsibility to report it accurately and fairly. I note that you have not been critical of the factual basis of the story, so must assume that you agree that the information in the article is correct.

I would argue that this is the case whether the information is in the public domain or not. In this case it has already been posted on social media, so we can safely assume that it is.

In terms of you querying whether I was concerned about "how the staff feel," you are entirely unaware of what is going on behind the scenes between Wetpixel and Waow.

Posted by Adam Hanlon on 2018-02-01 08:31:20

I fully agree Simon but when the boat had made an official announcement. I know full well how guests feel as I deal with them everyday but do they understand how the staff of WAOW feel? Just coming at it from a different perspective. I have no doubt all guests will be contacted and looked after to the highest degree but best they hear it from the boat first. Maybe WAOW should have already made a public announcement but I feel for the owners and staff having to deal with such a tragedy now amplified prematurely. We are all entitled to our options.

Posted by Alison Bygrave on 2018-02-01 07:35:20

Well done to Wetpixel for voicing this. I was on a live aboard in Raja Ampat when a horrendous incident happened and I was so worried that no-one would know and no-one did. Thank goodness for social media to let guests' families and friends know that their loved ones are all safe after such a horrible event. If they are trying to get through to them and can't, at least they are safe in the knowledge to know that they are all okay. This is a time to support and help each other in the diving community. Bless the owners, crew and all the guests xx

Posted by Maria Munn on 2018-02-01 07:26:42

As a member of the diving media Adam is doing his job responsibly and your condemnation is unjustified, Alison. You cannot be expected to suppress news such as this, if you are working in a country with a free press. This is not a private event and it is very much in the public interest to pursue this story.

Posted by Simon Rogerson on 2018-02-01 07:15:40

Hi Alison...the story is out with video being widely shown and shared on social media. It would be an injustice to the Wetpixel community to sit on a story that is already public. How would you feel if you were one of the guests affected by this? You are also incorrectly assuming that we have not been in touch with the folks from Waow. They are keen to get the story out to prevent the inevitable rumor machine that follows events like this.

Posted by Adam Hanlon on 2018-02-01 06:22:26

Adam, given that this has not been officially announced by the boat who I am sure are trying to deal with a very serious situation I think it is very bad taste to post this. No doubt due to your unofficial announcement to "grab the headlines" guests booked with now be inundating them at, a time when they need 24/48 hours to prepare themselves. Shame on you.